Gripping apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

A grasping device for grasping structures such as, for example, containers and bottles. The device facilitates the dexterous handling of these structures that otherwise would often require significant strength, gross and fine motor skill to manage, and especially to dispense the contents of in a controlled manner. The device may also facilitate one-handed operation, and may leave the second hand free to perform other tasks, such as, for example, securing a target container.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/307,720, filed Feb. 24, 2010 by Chris O'Sullivan for “GRIPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE,” which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a grasping device and more particularly to a device for grasping structures such as, for example, containers and bottles.

BACKGROUND

Bottles continue to be the most cost effective way to buy (and sell) many liquids, such as soft drinks, detergents, and the like. Yet, as most commonly sized, shaped, and manufactured, such bottles are often unwieldy and easily mishandled, spilled during use, etc. This is especially (but not solely) so with regard to larger bottles, such as the common two-liter plastic bottle.

The problem of handling bottles and containers, particularly large containers, is exacerbated when handled by children, the elderly, or people with a disability, such as, for example, stroke, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, injury, or other debilitating or impairing conditions. Gross and fine motor limitations can make it especially difficult to lift, grasp, and pour bottles and containers.

Even for individuals without disabilities, the task of pouring from many types of bottles and containers is not simple. The material that comprises the body of these bottles and containers is typically thin. As a result, it can often be difficult to grasp a bottle or container without crushing it, dropping it, or mishandling it in other ways.

Many people resort to the two handed method of pouring, one consequence of which is that the target, for example, a beverage cup, is not gripped and left unsecured. Not infrequently this unsecured target tips over and spills the poured contents onto the surface upon which the target rests.

Existing devices that purport to facilitate the dexterous handling of bottles require significant, and sometimes more, fine motor skill to engage the facilitating device than does the unaided handling of the same bottles. In addition, previous attempts to create a bottle-holding device that facilitates the dispensing of the contents of a bottle typically require the bottle to either rest in a cradle, or require the handle to be attached to the bottle, either through threading, clipping, sliding, or snapping into place. In situations where a number of bottles are present (for example, at a party or on a buffet table), users will typically require a number of facilitating devices due to the complexity of affixing such devices to a specific bottle.

It is apparent that there has long been a need for an economical and easily utilized device to facilitate the safe and efficient manipulation of bottles.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The applicant has therefore invented a bottle or container grasping device and method of use. In some embodiments, the grasping device has (i) a central bottle or container clasping section adapted to surround a portion of the outer periphery of a bottle or container and (ii) handles or grasping sections on or extending outward from the container clasping section, whereby a user may grasp the handles or grasping sections to pull them toward each other and thereby cause the central clasping section to grip the bottle or container as applicable.

In some embodiments, the grasping device may include a neck section adapted to grasp or abut an outer portion of a bottle or container, such as a narrowed neck on the upper portion. In some embodiments, such a neck section may aid in locating and securing the grasping device in the desired position on the bottle or container.

In some embodiments, the container clasping section may have a somewhat tubular form with a generally C-shaped cross-section. This type of clasping section can be particularly effective for grasping and manipulating larger bottles, such as the common two-liter plastic soft drink bottle for example.

In some embodiments, the clasping section may have other contours, and, in some embodiments, these contours may be shaped for clasping uniquely or differently shaped bottles or containers.

In some embodiments, the neck section may be integrally formed with the clasping section. In some embodiments, the handles or grasping sections may also be integrally formed with the clasping section. In some embodiments, the clasping or other sections may be made of a resilient material, such as a plastic.

In some embodiments, the grasping device can enable a wide variety of persons to pick up and pour from a bottle or container easily with one hand grasping the grasping sections or handles. The other hand can thus be free to, if desired, otherwise secure the bottle or container, hold the target in place, etc.

In some embodiments, the grasping device can be easily and readily engaged and disengaged from the bottle it is supporting. The grasping or gripping device also can serve to provide thermal insulation for an associated bottle, thus helping to preserve the contents of the bottle at a desired temperature.

In some embodiments, the grasping device is easy and economical to manufacture; and in some embodiments, the grasping device can be easy to wash and re-use as desired.

In some embodiments, the grasping device is lightweight and can be nested in columns for efficient transportation.

In some embodiments, the grasping device may require little or no packaging, and may be shipped with a UPC sticker printed on, or a cardstock tag affixed to, the grasping device.

In some embodiments, the grasping device may be displayed for sale in position on bottles or containers to readily show its efficacy.

In some embodiments, the grasping device may be printed up with logos and other artwork by ad-spec companies for marketing giveaways or ‘swag’ to be used and displayed at public events, for example, tailgate parties, birthdays, office parties, or anywhere else soft drinks are served.

In some embodiments, the grasping device can be durable and long lasting; and in some embodiments, the grasping device may be made partially or entirely of lightweight, resilient material such as plastic.

In some embodiments, the interior surface of the clasping section has a high coefficient of friction with regard to the exterior surface of the types of bottle or container it is designed to hold, but not so high as to impede the smooth engaging of the grasping device onto the bottle or container.

In some embodiments, the grasping device may rest loosely on the shoulders of a bottle or container until a person grasps the handle or grasping section of the device. Grasping the handles or grasping sections with one hand can put pressure on the bottle (although in some embodiments two hands may be used to grasp the grasping device), tightening the grasping device's grip upon the outer periphery of the bottle or container. In some embodiments, the user can use only one hand to lift the bottle or container by the grasping section or handles and pour out the contents of the bottle or container.

In some embodiments, this is readily accomplished by a wide variety of people without struggling, dropping, or otherwise mishandling the bottle or container. In some embodiments, when a person has finished using the bottle, the bottle can be returned to its supporting surface (e.g., a table). The pressure on the handles can then be released and the device may again rest loosely on the shoulders of the bottle or container or be removed for washing, use with another bottle or container, etc.

In some embodiments, it is not necessary to completely let go of the grasping device in order to disengage it from clasping an associated bottle or container. At that point, it is possible either to leave the grasping device to rest on the bottle or container, ready to be used again, or remove the ultra lightweight device by lifting it up and off of the bottle or container. The grasping device can then, if desired, be moved to another bottle or container, re-engaged, and ready to clasp the bottle or container, lift it, pour from it, etc. In some embodiments, this operation, i.e., moving the device from one bottle or container to another can be accomplished almost as quickly as it is possible to reach from one bottle or container to the next bottle or container. In some embodiments, this can be so in that it is not necessary to let go of the grasping device in order to disengage it. In some embodiments, when the bottle is put down, the grasping device disengages by relaxing the squeezing pressure of the user's hand or, in some embodiments, other structure or apparatus that holds the bottle in place with respect to the grasping device. It is then possible to lift the grasping device off of one bottle or container and slide it over the next bottle or container if desired. As soon as the handle or grasping section is grasped firmly enough to clamp down upon another bottle or container, the grasping device can be re-engaged for lifting, pouring, etc., of the bottle or container.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures. It is thus to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims as issued and not by whether a claim includes any or all features or advantages recited in this Brief Summary or addresses any issue identified in the Background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a grasping device disposed on a bottle;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment of a grasping device shaped to fit contours of a bottle or container having a wider middle; and

FIGS. 8-12 illustrate an embodiment of a grasping device with a tubular flexible clasping section disposed on a bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a grasping device, generally 10, has a tubular flexible clasping section 12, two grasping sections 14, 16 extending outwardly from the clasping section 12, and a neck section 18 cooperatively formed of one or more curved phalanges 20 extending upward from the clasping section 12 and having a inwardly curved internal periphery in order to abut the outwardly curved upper shoulder section 22 of a typical two-liter soft drink bottle 24.

In one embodiment, tubular flexible clasping section 12 may be formed of a resilient material and have an inner surface generally corresponding to an outer surface of a bottle. The inner surface may be substantially cylindrical or may be many other shapes including, for example, rectangular for milk bottles.

In an embodiment, the grasping sections 14, 16 are somewhat U-shaped handles. Generally, grasping sections 14, 16 may include a passageway to allow a user to place one or two hands in a grasping configuration with grasping device 10. Handles or grasping sections 14, 16 may be co-extensive with the height of tubular flexible clasping section 12. In other embodiments, Handles or grasping sections 14, 16 may be taller or shorter in height than tubular flexible clasping section 12. Handles or grasping sections 14, 16 may be rigidly or flexibly connected with tubular flexible clasping section 12 to allow selective positioning of tubular flexible clasping section 12 with respect to bottle 24.

In one embodiment, the neck section 18 generally has a similar, or the same, contour as the mating bottle shoulder 22. Neck section 18 may position the grasping device 10 placed for use with its clasping tubular section 12 near the middle of the bottle 24 or container. This positioning may occur both during use and while stored on bottle 24. Neck section 18 may be curvilinear to follow the contour of a typical two-liter soda bottle. Neck section 18 may also be linear or angled to abut portions of a typical two-liter soda bottle or other shaped bottle.

The tubular clasping section 12 has a central tubular passage 26 in a direction orthogonal to its axial length A for a typical two-liter bottle 24. For other shaped bottles, the central passage may be triangular, square, or another polygon in a direction orthogonal to axial length A. In a direction substantially parallel to axial length A, the central passage may be shaped to correspond to a rounded shoulder, an hourglass, a square, or another shape. A generally round or tubular passage or polygonal passage may be correspond to the outer shape of a bottle or may not directly correspond to the outer shape of a bottle, but only impinge upon discrete portions of the bottle.

With reference also to FIG. 3, a lateral width-adjustable slot 28 may be provided along the entire length of the side 30 of the clasping section 12. Handles 14, 16 may extend from tubular flexible clasping section 12 adjacent slot 28. For example, first handle 14 may extend laterally along and parallel to a first lateral edge 32 of slot 28. A second handle 16 may extend laterally along and parallel to a second lateral edge 34 of slot 28. The opposing first and second handles 14, 16 may be moved toward each other in order to narrow the width 36 of the slot 28, and similarly the handles 14, 16 may be moved away from each other in order to expand the width 36 of the slot 28. In one embodiment, slot 28 is sized to prevent first lateral edge 32 and second lateral edge 34 from reaching one another when bottle 24 is disposed within clasping section 12. This configuration allows a user to provide a significant amount of force drawing together first lateral edge 32 and second lateral edge 34, which in turn provides a greater amount of friction than if first lateral edge 32 and second lateral edge 34 were drawn together in contact with one another. It should also be appreciated that the tubular circumference of clasping section 12 provides compression along a significant surface area surrounding bottle 12. This compression along the circumference of either a full, partially full, or substantially empty bottle 24 is less likely to collapse in that compression applied to a circular object requires a very significant force to cause failure of a wall.

In this embodiment of FIG. 1, the axial height 37 of the tubular flexible clasping section 12 along its central axis A is approximately half the height of the bottles or containers that the tubular section 12 is intended to clasp. In other embodiments, the tubular clasping section 12 may extend from the curved upper shoulder section 22 of the bottle 24 or container any length, such as, for example, the full length of the bottle 24 or container if desired or less than half the height of bottles or containers. In one embodiment, tubular clasping section 12 together with neck portion 18 and handles 14, 16 are a lightweight grasping device which remains in a good ergonomic position for use on bottle 24 or transfer to another bottle 24.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when no force is applied to the handles 14, 16, the internal diameter DD of the tubular flexible clasping section 12 is approximately the same as, or slightly larger than, the outer diameter DB of the bottle 24 or container that the device 10 is designed or intended to clasp. When the handles 14, 16 are forced toward each other and there is no bottle or container within its confines, the internal diameter (not shown) of the tubular section 26 is substantially smaller than the outer diameter DB of the bottle 24. As discussed above, this configuration provides significant compression forces, which in turn may provide a higher friction force between bottle 24 and tubular flexible clasping section 12 than an outer diameter of tubular section 26 which matches an outer diameter of the bottle.

In an embodiment, a method may be provided to grasp a bottle or container and dispense its contents using the grasping device 10. The method may include a user (not shown) sliding tubular section 12 of the grasping device 10 over the bottle 22 or container. The user may push it down until the neck section 20 of the grasping device 10 matingly abuts the shoulder section 22 of the bottle 24, and tubular section 12 matingly surrounds the central tubular body 38 of the bottle 22 or container.

In one embodiment, the user may then grasp the opposing first and second handles 14, 16. Typically, the user will use one hand, but the user may use two hands. The user squeezes the handles 14, 16 toward each other. The width 36 of the lateral slot 28 thus narrows and the interior periphery 42 of the tubular section 12 is forced into gripping contact with mating exterior periphery 40 of the central tubular body 38 of the bottle 24 or container. Because of (i) the leverage (torque) generated by the handles 14, 16 against the tubular section 12 (and in turn by the interior periphery 42 of the tubular section 12 against the of the exterior periphery 40 of the tubular body 38 of the bottle 24 or container) and (ii) the friction between the interior periphery 42 of the grasping section 12 and the exterior periphery 40 of the central tubular body 38 of the bottle 24 or container, the user need apply only relatively little squeezing force on the handles 14, 16 is to firmly secure the bottle 22 or container in the grasping device 10.

In an embodiment, when the friction between the tubular section 12 of the grasping device 10 and the tubular body 38 of the bottle 22 generated by squeezing the handles 14, 16 together is sufficient, the user may readily and easily lift the bottle 24 and tilt the bottle 24 at will in order to dispense the bottle contents into or onto the desired target.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the grasping device generally 10 has a generally C-shaped cross-section with the handles 14, 16 secured to and extending radially outward from the opposed tubular section edges 32, 34. Thus, when the handles 14, 16 are brought toward one another, they cause the C-shaped cross-section to shrink and narrow in diametral width. When released, the clasping section 12 “C” returns to its original open position.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in another embodiment, the depicted bottle 50 is not strictly cylindrical or tubular but rather has a narrower diameter in the mid-region 54, similar to an hourglass. The grasping device in general 10 is shaped to fit the contours of the bottle 50 or container. In this embodiment, the contours of bottle 50 are narrower at the top 70 and bottom 72 as compared to a wider middle 74. In this embodiment, the grasping principles are the same as those described in the previous embodiments. By firmly grasping the handles 14 and 16, the gripping pressure is applied by application of torque and friction to a clasping section 76 to the body of the bottle 50. This, in turn, enables a user to lift and tilt the bottle as need be, in a controlled manner.

In this embodiment, there are no phalanges at the top of the clasping section 76. Instead the top edge 70 of the grasping device 10 is tilted in relation to the plane 63 of the base of the bottle 50 or container Top edge 70 may angle downwardly from diametrically opposite the handles 14 and 16. The diameter of the top edge 70 is smaller than the diameter of the central mid-section 74 of the clasping section 76 below it. Top edge 70 conforms to, and thus abuts, the shape of the shoulder 68 of the bottle 50 or container. In other words, the clasping section 76 has a wider diameter in its middle section 74 and tapers down to a smaller diameter at its top edge 70. This smaller diameter top edge 70 performs the same as or similar function as the phalange or phalanges in the previous described embodiments, i.e., to position the grasping device 10 on the bottle 50 or container, with top edge 70 resting on the shoulder 68 of the bottle 50.

Also the clasping section 76 and the grasping handles 14, 16 may operate similarly to, or in the same manner, as described in the previous embodiments. The diameter of the bottom edge 72 of the grasping device 10 may be less than the mid-section 74 of the clasping section 76. Clasping section 76 may be slightly tapered inward from its mid-section 74 to the bottom edge 72, but not tapered so far as to impede the smooth slipping on, the engaging, of the grasping device 10 onto the bottle 50 or container. Similarly, the bottom edge 72 may be angled, i.e., not parallel to the plane 63 of the bottom of the bottle 50 or container.

In reference to FIGS. 8-12, in another embodiment, the general grasping device 10 has a tubular flexible clasping section 80, two grasping sections 84, 86 extending outwardly from the clasping section 80, and a neck section 81 cooperatively formed of a number of curved phalanges 82 extending upward from the top 88 of the clasping section 80 and having a inwardly curved internal periphery in order to abut the outwardly curved upper shoulder section 22 of a typical two-liter soft drink bottle 24.

In one embodiment, tubular flexible clasping section 80 may be formed of a resilient material and have an inner surface generally corresponding to an outer surface of a bottle. The inner surface may be substantially cylindrical or may be many other shapes including, for example, rectangular for milk bottles.

In an embodiment, the grasping sections 84, 86 are somewhat U-shaped handles. Handles 84, 86 may be attached by screws 85 to the clasping section 80. Generally, grasping sections 84, 86 may include a passageway to allow a user to place one or two hands in a grasping configuration with grasping device 10. Handles or grasping sections 84, 86 may be co-extensive with the height of tubular flexible clasping section 80. In other embodiments, Handles or grasping sections 84, 86 may be taller or shorter in height than tubular flexible clasping section 80. Handles or grasping sections 84, 86 may be rigidly or flexibly connected with tubular flexible clasping section 80 to allow selective positioning of tubular flexible clasping section 80 with respect to bottle 24.

In one embodiment, the neck section 81 generally has a similar, or the same, contour as the mating bottle shoulder 22. Neck section 82 may positions the grasping device 10 placed for use with its clasping tubular section 80 near the middle of the bottle 24 or container, and the lower edge 90 of the clasping section 80 is positioned above the bottom 91 of the bottle 24 or container. This positioning may occur both during use and while stored on bottle 24. Neck section 82 may be curvilinear to follow the contour of a typical two-liter soda bottle. Neck section 82 may also be linear or angled to abut portions of a typical two-liter soda bottle or other shaped bottle.

In one embodiment, the clasping section 80, the grasping sections 84, 86, and the neck section 81 phalanges 82 are made of plastic, preferably a resilient, strong, durable, and lightweight thermoplastic.

In reference to FIG. 10, the tubular clasping section 80 has a lateral width-adjustable slot 92 along the entire length of the side of the clasping section 80 coaxial with the central axis CA of a mating tubular bottle 24 (FIGS. 11 and 12.) Handles 84, 86 may extend from clasping section adjacent adjustable slot 92. A first handle 84 may extend laterally along and parallel to a first lateral edge 94 of slot 92. A second handle 86 may extend laterally along and parallel to a second lateral edge 96 of slot 92. The opposing first and second handles 84, 86 may be moved toward each other in order to narrow the width W of the slot 92, and similarly the handles 84, 86 may be moved away from each other in order to expand the width W of the slot 92. In one embodiment, slot 92 is sized to prevent first lateral edge 94 and second lateral edge 96 from reaching one another when bottle 24 is disposed within clasping section 80. This configuration allows a user to provide a significant amount of force drawing together first lateral edge 94 and second lateral edge 96, which in turn provides a greater amount of friction than if first lateral edge 94 and second lateral edge 96 were drawn together in contact with one another.

In reference to FIG. 11 of the same embodiment, the bottle 24 or container may be tilted to pour, by grasping the grasping device in general 10. The handles 84, 86 are gripped by the user's hands 98, which by pressing the two handles 84, 86 towards each other, puts pressure on the tubular clasping section 80. That tubular clasping section 80, together with the neck section 81 of the grasping device 10, that secures the upper neck 22 of the bottle 24, secure the entire bottle 24 and enable the user (not shown other than the hands) to tilt and manipulate the bottle at will so as to pour into a container 99.

In reference to FIG. 12 of the same embodiment, the bottle 24 or container may be tilted to pour, by grasping the grasping device in general 10. The handles 84, 86 are gripped by one of the user's hands 98L, which by pressing the two handles 84, 86 towards each other, forces the tubular clasping section 80 to contract and grip the outer periphery of the bottle 24. That tubular clasping section 80, together with the neck section 81 of the grasping device 10, that secures the upper neck 22 of the bottle 24, secure the entire bottle 24 and enable the user (not shown other than the hands) to tilt and manipulate the bottle at will so as to pour into a container 99.

An alternative grasping or gripping device may be is made of blow molded polypropylene and may be similar to any of the above-identified embodiment. The gripping device can serve not only as a secure gripping and manipulating apparatus as described above for this and the other embodiments but also can provide thermal insulation for the associated bottle, its contents, or both. Thus, the gripping device can help preserve the temperature of the bottle contents whether hot or cold. It can also help isolate the bottle handles or other gripping structure in the gripping device from contact with the bottle or its contents.

In the above-identified embodiments, the bottle 24 is a 2 liter bottle, but other forms of the gripping device (not shown) may be used with other bottle shapes and structures as noted above.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims. 

1. A bottle grasping device mountable on a bottle having an axial length and a width transverse to the axis of the axial length, comprising: a resilient central clasping section having (i) a top end opposite a bottom end and mountable along the axial length of the bottle about its axis and (ii) a width-adjustable channel in and extending along the axial length of the central clasping section and including a first channel edge opposite a second channel edge; and a first grasping section adjacent the first channel edge of the central clasping section and a second edge adjacent the second channel of the of the central clasping section.
 2. A bottle grasping device of claim 1 wherein the resilient central clasping section has a interior surface length between the first grasping section and the second grasping section, and the interior surface length is less than an exterior circumference of the bottle so as to prevent the width-adjustable channel from closing when the resilient central clasping section is disposed about the bottle and the first grasping section and the second grasping edge are drawn toward one another.
 3. A bottle grasping device of claim 1 wherein the resilient central clasping section has an arcuate cross-section in a direction orthogonal to the axial length of the bottle.
 4. A bottle grasping device of claim 1 wherein the resilient central clasping section has an hourglass profile in a direction substantially parallel to the axial length of the bottle.
 5. A bottle grasping device of claim 1 wherein the resilient central clasping section has a neck section extending upwardly from the top end, and the neck section tapers inwardly.
 6. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein the neck section includes at least one phalange.
 7. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein the neck section includes a plurality of phalanges.
 8. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein the neck section tapers inwardly to correspond to an upper shoulder section of the bottle.
 9. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein the neck section is sized to dispose the resilient central clasping section onto a mid-section of the bottle.
 10. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein the neck section is sized to approach, without making contact, an opening of the bottle with the arcuate clasping section disposed on a mid-section of the bottle.
 11. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein a distance between the bottom end of the arcuate clasping section and an opposed end of the neck section define an overall height, and wherein the overall height is less than a height of the bottle.
 12. A bottle grasping device of claim 5 wherein a distance between the bottom end of the arcuate clasping section and an opposed end of the neck section positions the bottom end of the arcuate clasping section above a base portion of the bottle when the resilient central clasping section is positioned in a surrounding configuration to the bottle.
 13. A bottle grasping device of claim 1 wherein the first grasping section and the second grasping section each includes a handle extending therefrom, respectively.
 14. A bottle grasping device of claim 13 wherein the handle of the first grasping section and the handle of second grasping section are disposed a distance apart from one another by the width-adjustable channel, and wherein the distance permits a user to draw the first grasping section and the second grasping section toward one another with a single hand so as to selectively retain the bottle within the resilient central clasping section and allow a one-handed pour.
 15. A bottle grasping device of claim 13 wherein the handle of the first grasping section and the handle of second grasping section are disposed a distance apart from one another by the width-adjustable channel, and wherein the distance requires a user to draw the first grasping section and the second grasping section toward one another with two hands so as to selectively retain the bottle within the resilient central clasping section and allow a two-handed pour.
 16. A pour system having a bottle grasping device mounted on a bottle, the pour system comprising: a bottle having a spout end and a base end forming and an axis therebetween, an axial length, and a width transverse to the axis of the axial length, a mid-section between the spout end and the base end, a sidewall extending between the spout end and the base end, at least one portion of the sidewall having an arcuate outer diameter extending in a direction generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis extending between the spout end and the base end, and an upper shoulder section tapering inwardly from the mid-section; a bottle grasping device mountable on the bottle, the bottle grasping device, comprising: a resilient central clasping section having (i) a top end opposite a bottom end and mountable along the axial length of the bottle about its axis and (ii) a width-adjustable channel in and extending along the axial length of the central clasping section and including a first channel edge opposite a second channel edge; and a first grasping section adjacent the first channel edge of the central clasping section and a second edge adjacent the second channel of the of the central clasping section.
 17. A method of grasping a bottle, the method comprising: A bottle grasping device mountable on a bottle having an axial length and a width transverse to the axis of the axial length, comprising: sliding, onto a bottle having an axial length and a width transverse to the axis of the axial length, a resilient central clasping section having (i) a top end opposite a bottom end and mountable along the axial length of the bottle about its axis and (ii) a width-adjustable channel in and extending along the axial length of the central clasping section and including a first channel edge opposite a second channel edge; and squeezing the bottle with a first grasping section adjacent the first channel edge of the central clasping section and a second edge adjacent the second channel of the of the central clasping section.
 18. A method of grasping a bottle of claim 17 wherein the step of squeezing the first grasping section and the second grasping section is accomplished with a single hand of a user.
 19. A method of grasping a bottle of claim 17 wherein the step of squeezing the first grasping section and the second grasping section is accomplished with both hands of a user.
 20. A method of grasping a bottle of claim 17 further comprising lifting the first grasping section and the second grasping section so as to lift the bottle to a selected height and orientation of the spout to dispense liquids from the bottle into a selected receptacle. 